Echo360 Launches Annual Research Program That Will Award $10,000 Grants to Educational Institutions

DULLES, VA--(Marketwire - Aug 16, 2011) - Echo360, the global leader in campus-wide blended learning and lecture capture solutions, is now accepting submissions for the 2011-2012 Blended Learning Grants Program. The 2011-2012 program theme is "Breaking New Ground: Outcomes, Retention and Recruitment" and encourages institutions to submit proposals that focus on blended learning's impact on these topics. Applications will be accepted through September 16, 2011 and four $10,000 grants will be awarded.

"Sponsoring research is critical to the advancement and innovation of the education market," said CEO of Echo360, Fred Singer. "As blended learning platforms mature and the applications for the solutions evolve, measuring student and institutional results is essential to understanding the technology's impact on teaching and learning."

While all blended learning and lecture capture research topics will be considered, the program's main focus will remain on student performance, retention and recruitment. Echo360 has previously funded studies that offered revealing perspectives on student experiences and this year's program aims to pioneer the research practice and strategic value of blended learning solutions in today's educational landscape.

Winners will be announced November 1, 2011 and will be judged by a roster of familiar, veteran educational experts. The distinguished panel includes C. Darrell Jennings, MD, Senior Associate Dean of University of Kentucky, Dr. John T. Casteen III, President Emeritus of the University of Virginia, and Dr. Rob Phillips, Associate Professor of Murdoch University. Currently celebrating the program's third anniversary, notable awardees include University of Texas at Austin, Coventry University, City University of Hong Kong, University of Sussex and Iowa State University.

For individuals or institutions interested in applying for the 2011 Blended Learning Grants Program, please visit: www.echo360.com/grantsprogram

Echo360
As a global leader in blended learning and lecture capture solutions, Echo360 helps higher education institutions keep pace with modern students' learning needs through products that digitally record and upload learning content. Echo360 has been recognized with a Product Line Strategy of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan and named a Visionary Vendor in Educational Technology by IT research firm Basex. Echo360's products facilitate better instruction, lower costs and enrich learning experiences by enabling students to easily access and share multimedia content. Through Echo360's platform, students can replay recorded sessions and review course information online at their convenience and across various devices. More than 400 colleges and universities in 29 countries use Echo360's solution.